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WILLY'S AWAY: Willy Grogan in action for LeaderBrand Poverty Bay in a pre-season clash with Hawke’s Bay Saracens. Grogan is to start in the Bay’s first home game of the 2017 Heartland Championship at Rugby Park tomorrow. The Bay face Horowhenua Kapiti and are looking to bounce back from their week 1 loss to Mid Canterbury. Picture by Paul Rickard

LEADERBRAND Poverty Bay coach Mana Otai has made two changes to the side who lost to Mid Canterbury for tomorrow’s Heartland Championship week 2 clash against Horwhenua Kapiti at Rugby Park.

OBM captain Willy Grogan will start at halfback in place of Waikohu’s Mario Counsell.

Jesse Fleming comes in at second five eighth with Waikohu clubmate Tawhao Stewart shifting to centre and loan player Isaia Vuki dropping to the bench.

There are a couple of changes in the reserves. Prop Sandy Hohipa-Campbell comes in and Fawn White (loose forward) is bracketed with YMP teammate Mekepio Brown.

“There’s not a lot between Mario and Willy . . . it’s just that Willy gives us a different dimension around the rucks.

"Jesse is a class player who missed last week’s game through injury, but he’s fully recovered and will give us strength and communication in the midfield.

“He had a good season for Waikohu in a leadership role.”

Despite going down 34-5 to Mid Canterbury, after being tied 5-all at halftime, Otai said there was never going to be “panic” changes.

“When I watched footage of the game I was encouraged by a lot of the good things we did. It wasn’t a game of two halves as I first thought.

“We hung in and it wasn’t until the last 15 minutes that the scoreline — which didn’t reflect how well we had done against a very good team — blew out.

“Obviously there were areas of our game that needed tidying up, especially the contact areas, and that’s always going to be the case with a new team and early in the season. It’s about developing each week. Sandy will give us impact off the bench in the front row and Fawn comes back into contention after recovering from injury.”

Otai said he Horwhenua Kapiti would come here confident.

“They’ve earned that right after beating North Otago but we’re confident in our own ability. It’s just a matter of everyone doing their individual jobs and putting it together as a team.”

Horowhenua Kapiti coach Chris Wilton was naturally happy with his side’s 22-19 defeat of North Otago.

“The boys showed a lot of character in coming from 11 points down late in the game to win,” Wilton said.

“It’s always good to get a win first-up and being at home certainly helps. We’re expecting the Bay to come out firing.

It’s their first home game and from what I hear it’s going to be wet on Saturday so ball retention will be major focus.”

The sides have met eight times in the Heartland Championship, with the Bay having won five of those and drawn one. However, in the most recent encounter (in 2015), Horowhenua won 54-26.

Tomorrow’s Rugby Park action also features Poverty Bay taking on Wellington Samoan Schools (12.15pm) in their opening game of the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council under-18 competition.

Poverty Bay u18 girls play their Hawke’s Bay counterparts in Wairoa at 1pm tomorrow.

Heartland Championship, week 2: North Otago v Mid Canterbury, Oamaru; Thames Valley v Wanganui, Paeroa; Wairarapa Bush v NP East Coast, Masterton; West Coast v Buller, Greymouth, Poverty Bay v Horowhenua Kapiti, Gisborne; South Canterbury v King Country, Timaru.

Week 1 results: Buller 27 South Canterbury 24, NP East Coast 13 Thames Valley 42, Horowhenua Kapiti 22 North Otago 19, King Country 6 West Coast 17, Mid Canterbury 34 Poverty Bay 5, Wanganui 79 Wairarapa Bush 7.